Defense Minister Israel Katz's plan to issue 7,000 draft notices to yeshiva students on Sunday has sparked a fierce backlash from ultra-Orthodox media outlets, reigniting long-standing tensions over military service exemptions.

The front page of Yated Neeman, the newspaper aligned with MK Moshe Gafni's Degel HaTorah party, strongly denounced the move, "Attempts to forcefully expand mandatory conscription are escalating. Following the directive of religious leadership, students must not appear at recruitment offices, even for preliminary registration."

Hamodia, the publication associated with Jerusalem Affairs and Jewish Heritage Minister Meir Porush, struck a similarly defiant tone on its front page, characterizing the action as an ongoing assault on religious institutions. "Newly appointed Defense Minister Israel Katz has authorized the distribution of 7,000 draft notices to yeshiva students. This approach is steering toward direct confrontation with the ultra-Orthodox community."

In response to these publications, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid condemned the Haredi stance, saying, "The directive to yeshiva students is a national disgrace, an insult to combat soldiers, and a public call to break the law."

While the rhetoric appears somewhat tempered compared to previous confrontations, serving primarily as a formal protest while keeping dialogue channels open, ultra-Orthodox parties maintain cautious optimism about Katz's potential cooperation in drafting new conscription legislation. However, they clearly signal their willingness to employ decisive measures should negotiations falter.

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In a groundbreaking development, a prominent ultra-Orthodox rabbi has voiced support for drafting members of his community who are not engaged in full-time religious study into the Israeli military. This shift in stance could potentially pave the way for thousands of new recruits and help bridge long-standing social divides in Israel.

A high-profile fundraising event took place last Thursday, drawing major donors to support religious schools facing budget cuts in the wake of a recent Israeli Supreme Court ruling. Attendees contributed generously to offset the shortfall, adding to the tens of millions of dollars already amassed. Among the notable contributors was David Hager, a Los Angeles-based businessman and philanthropist known for his substantial backing of "Nahal Haredi," an organization supporting ultra-Orthodox soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

While awaiting the arrival of another prominent rabbi, Hager engaged in a private, 40-minute dialogue with Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, one of the most respected leaders in the ultra-Orthodox community. During their conversation, Hager outlined the existing pathways for ultra-Orthodox individuals in the IDF, and the two delved into various aspects of military service for members of their community.

A key topic of discussion was the potential enlistment of ultra-Orthodox individuals who are not enrolled in religious schools and thus lack the typical justification for military exemption granted to those immersed in intensive religious study. Concluding their talk, Rabbi Hirsch concurred that those engaged in secular work or academic pursuits rather than full-time religious study should indeed be subject to the draft. However, he maintained that religious students should remain exempt from military service, even if they are unable to dedicate themselves to studying throughout the entire day.

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who carries the burden of a generation, leading them in tefillah as well pic.twitter.com/liJuU8A6DS

— #MKY מי כעמך ישראל (@MKYstatus) September 29, 2024

 This stance marks a significant departure from the traditional position of ultra-Orthodox religious leadership. Leaders of Rabbi Hirsch's caliber had previously refrained from making such statements, particularly in the absence of legislation ensuring stable exemptions for religious students. The rabbi's pronouncement was met with considerable astonishment among his close circle and fellow event attendees.

Moved by Rabbi Hirsch's groundbreaking statement, Hager made a substantial donation of $1.37 million to the religious school fund, the largest contribution of the evening. He emphasized the importance of publicizing the rabbi's words to reshape the ongoing debate surrounding military service for non-studying ultra-Orthodox individuals. This shift could potentially lead to the enlistment of thousands, a move deemed crucial both for bolstering the ranks of regular service personnel and for mending Israel's strained social fabric.

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In a controversial move, Israel's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has ordered the termination of daycare subsidies for ultra-Orthodox families whose fathers are eligible for military service but have not enlisted. The decision, which affects an estimated 6,700 families, has ignited a fierce debate over the intersection of religious study, military service, and state support in Israel.

Baharav-Miara sent a letter on Sunday morning to Labor Minister Yoav Ben-Tzur, instructing him to halt funding for daycare centers for young ultra-Orthodox families with individuals eligible for military service between the ages of 18-26 who are required to enlist.

According to the attorney general, "With the expiration of the legal basis for blanket service deferrals, the justification for government funding aimed at encouraging studies for draft-eligible ultra-Orthodox men has also been nullified. There is no longer any authority to promote Torah studies within the daycare subsidy framework for those who are required to serve but have not reported for duty."

"The existence of a direct connection between the deferment of service for members of the ultra-Orthodox public and their Torah studies is rooted in the Torah studies being the basic purpose for avoiding enlistment," Baharav-Miara added.

Riots break out at the IDF's main recruitment center, Tel HaShomer, as ultra-Orthodox men break into the base in defiance of the military draft notices issued to them pic.twitter.com/HGDdRwx9Lz

— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) August 6, 2024

Israel Hofsheet (Be Free Israel), which petitioned on issues of non-subsidization of daycare centers on the attorney general's announcement, said: "We welcome the fact that the attorney general has also accepted the position we petitioned for two months ago – whoever is supposed to enlist and doesn't do so certainly should not receive far-reaching economic benefits. Gone are the days when one could both evade enlistment and receive extensive subsidies, which in any case only reach a few and should not reach those who choose to evade both enlistment and the labor market. The time for equality has come."

The Shas party issued a harsh statement against the attorney general's decision. "The decision to deny working ultra-Orthodox mothers daycare subsidies, three weeks before the start of the school year, just because the husband studies Torah – this is cruel legal bullying and abuse of helpless children. It's a disgraceful mark of shame on the forehead of a legal system that is supposed to be the shield and relief for women who decided to enter the labor market and contribute to the Israeli economy. The purpose of the subsidy is to encourage women's employment. Ultra-Orthodox women have the highest rate of female employment in the OECD. This unfortunate decision will set them back," Shas said.

The party added: "The issue of the status of yeshiva students is currently being discussed in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and efforts are being made to reach a legal arrangement in cooperation with the defense system. Bullying working ultra-Orthodox women as a means of pressure – is absolute folly that will not take a single Kollel student out of the study hall and will distance any solution on the issue. We will examine the legal tools at our disposal to cancel the scandalous decision that a black flag flies over it."

Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Jewish Heritage Meir Porush said, "The legal counsel exposes the truth – they are not interested in the army's needs, but only in an obsessive persecution against the world of Torah and the ultra-Orthodox family. The legal system drags small children into a political battle and works to starve them; they have no boundaries."

"The decision of the attorney general to exclude the children of Kollel students is outrageous and discriminatory," tweeted United Torah Judaism chairman, Housing and Construction Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf on his X account. "This is a direct attack on ultra-Orthodox women who go out to work for their livelihood and wish to maintain a Torah lifestyle. It's needless to say that the attorney general would not have published an identical decision against an Arab population that doesn't serve or against children of foreign workers and infiltrators who enjoy services and allowances as if they served in the IDF. This is another attempt to harm the ultra-Orthodox public in various cruel ways."

Goldknopf pledged that "United Torah Judaism will act with all the tools at its disposal to cancel this evil decree and ensure that the families of Kollel students are not harmed. We will demand an urgent discussion in the government and the Knesset on the subject and act to rectify the situation as soon as possible."

Ben-Tzur announced emergency discussions and consultations with professional bodies and legal advisors in his office. His staff stated, "The minister views the severe and direct harm against those helpless toddlers who will be left without supervised educational frameworks as serious."

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Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has ordered the IDF to temporarily postpone sending draft notices to Haredi yeshiva students, as political negotiations continue over legislation regulating the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men.

The decision comes about a month after the High Court of Justice ruled that the long-standing exemption allowing Haredi men to defer mandatory military service must end. The court also ordered the cessation of government funding to yeshivas during the interim period before new laws are enacted.

While the military says it has complied with the ruling by preparing draft orders for yeshiva students, Gallant has blocked their delivery for now. Officials familiar with the matter say Gallant aims to "successfully draft Haredim" through potential political agreements rather than unilateral conscription that could spark a confrontation.

"We don't want to send notices and start a struggle that will not really lead to drafting Haredim," one of the officials said. "We are seeking to exhaust political processes that may provide backing for drafting Haredim through cooperation, which will lead to more effective conscription."

The delayed draft notices have drawn criticism from some quarters who view it as an unfair privilege for the ultra-Orthodox community. However, Gallant's office argues that a more measured approach coordinated with Haredi leaders could improve enlistment outcomes.

In the meantime, yeshiva budgets of approximately 30 million shekels ($8.5 million) per month remain frozen in accordance with the High Court ruling as the legal framework is revised.

The Defense Ministry has received recommendations from a committee led by Maj. Gen. (res.) Eliezer Shkedi that studied Haredi conscription. Key proposals include a pilot program at IDF induction centers, focusing on recruiting men not engaged in full-time Torah study, establishing Haredi-oriented prep courses, and opening all military roles to ultra-Orthodox conscripts.

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Experts warned this week that allocating two billion shekels to the state school system, which teaches all subjects required by the Education Ministry, and the same amount to ultra-Orthodox schools that receive exemptions from the state in terms of curriculum, will lead to the collapse of the state school system.

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They said that the new budget model would set a precedent where other private Israeli schools too will demand full budgets, resulting in an exodus of students from the state school system in favor of private institutions.

Haredi schools rarely teach English, math, and science, or teach them in a limited way, which is why for years, the state has tried to increase the study of these subjects in the sector in the hopes that – down the line – it will help its members integrate into the workforce.

During Coalition negotiations, however, ultra-Orthodox parties secured 1.2 billion shekels that will go to increasing the wages of teachers in the sector, but without an employer-employee relationship between them and the Education Ministry.

The move has already led to protests against the measure. Over the weekend, educators, academics, and teachers sent a letter to Education Minister Yoav Kisch, calling on him to "prevent the disaster that will befall" the state school system.

"Entire generations of children will be denied basic studies of mathematics, science, and languages, and will undermine the common moral base of values," the letter said. "We must fight with determination and persistence to place the state school system at the top of the national priority list. We ask that you make your voice heard clearly and loudly, and call on all factions and sectors to integrate into the state school system."

There was no immediate response from the education minister's office.

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We must not let the dam burst // Michal Aharoni

Many times I want to be only around women. There are times when the presence of a man causes me and my friends to behave differently. They undermine our balance, and place restrictions and limitations.

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We have a women's only Facebook group, girls' nights out, and outings where we talk and act like we would never do around men. However, it is our choice to create this safe space, we decide when and how it will take place.

This is the routine that we set for ourselves at any given moment. It changes depending on the situation and how we feel. Because women, even though they "cannot contemplate complex ideas," know very well when they want to be alone and when they want to be together. You don't need a law for that, you can just ask them what they want.

When MK Bezalel Smotrich, head of the Religious Zionist Party, and Yitzhak Goldknopf, head of United Torah Judaism, come and demand that gender segregation not be considered discrimination, this is already problematic. How can two men, one from a party that does not even allow women to be a part of it, join together to lead such an initiative? How is it possible that these kinds of demands always come from men? How is it that no woman has ever raised the banner of this demand?

Segregationist Judaism

The answer is clear: These are two men who think that they know what's right and what's good for women. Goldknopf has also never had any women from his religious sector who want to have any influence from within the Knesset; as far as he is concerned there is not even one.

And Smotrich? He has engraved the concept of segregation on his political banner, the crux of his Judaism is distinct and differentiating. A Jew who is not prepared to have an Arab doctor touch her baby because he "desecrates" the moment of birth, the Judaism that pushes women to the back of the bus and forgets that "God created male and female" side by side. Not one behind the other.

So, yes, Knesset members and rabbis, and religious adjudicators always think that they know what is best and right for us. They have ownership over wisdom and morality and justice. They are here to do good for women, while, God forbid, never marring their status. It's just that all this good they are showering on us, such as not permitting women to enlist into the army, not to sing in front of men, not to attend mixed events, and a million and one other examples, always amount to what is forbidden for women to do. What men claim that they are doing in favor of women, always ends against them.

If ultra-Orthodox women come and demand segregated events, I'd be the last one to say no. But in the end, whenever decisions and rulings are made for and about women – for some reason, it's the men who are making the decisions.

And the moment that the law is enacted, the floodgates will open for a torrent of separated events. The hole in the dam, which we anyway stop with our little finger, just like the Dutch girl, will burst. Then women will not only be removed from positions of power and influence, their voices will not only be banned in public – they will not be heard at all.

What is permitted for the secular // Merav Sever

Outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid had no free time to support the vital struggle of women in Iran; that is until yesterday. That is when Lapid came out with a populist and shallow statement, comparing the demand of the Religious Zionist Party and United Torah Judaism to change the law so that gender segregation in public events on religious grounds is not considered discrimination, to the atrocities taking place in the Islamic Republic.

The sad part of Lapid's outrageous statement is not the fact that he did not bother to read the article to the end, nor the clear reservation that this is an important amendment for ultra-Orthodox and religious women, who want to enjoy cultural events with gender segregation, in accordance with their faith and lifestyle. The sad part here is that Lapid knows the truth, yet chooses to create rifts, incite and lie, all in order to stir up the Israeli public, who are absolutely terrified of the government that is about to be formed, making them believe that the Revolutionary Guards of the Modesty Police will be present at Shlomo Artzi and Omer Adam's performances forcing the audience to sit separately.

This is especially infuriating when knowing that in recent years Lapid's wife, Lihi Lapid, has personally held several cultural events for women only. MK Merav Ben Ari, of the Yesh Atid party, also organized an event in the last elections for ultra-Orthodox women only, where she promised to answer their questions.

Under the Radar

Under the embarrassing and groveling title " The wisest of women – each one built her house" (Proverbs, 14:1), they were joined by Merav Michaeli, who set up an ultra-Orthodox section in the Labor Party and invited ultra-orthodox women to participate in a gender-separate conference that she organized.

In fact, in October, even the left-wing Meretz party held a conference at Beit Jann with gender segregation. The conference, organized by MK Ali Salalha, passed quietly under the radar because the Arabs are allowed to hold events according to the lifestyle they believe in. Michaeli and Ben Ari are also allowed to take the votes of ultra-Orthodox women, but, God forbid, they are not allowed to live according to their faith.

On the other hand, Motti Steinmetz's performance in Afula during the summer, as well as the concerts of Hanan Ben Ari, Of Simhas, and Kobi Aflalo in Bat Yam, were canceled in 2019 following a vexing petition by women's organizations.

The petition denied ultra-Orthodox and religious women the opportunity to enjoy a segregated performance, due to the rapacious attempt to impose a secular lifestyle on them. Not one enlightened woman from any secular women's organization thought to ask an ultra-Orthodox woman what she wants.

Lapid and the women's organizations want the ultra-Orthodox women to be obedient and submissive. But instead of obeying Jewish law, these women must obey how others think they must live. They should not dare to enjoy a separate event for women.

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Ultra-Orthodox newspapers are slated to publish Tuesday a scathing joint letter by leading Haredi rabbis Chaim Kanievsky and Gershon Edelstein, criticizing the government for reforms they claim would undermine Judaism.

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In the letter, the two express opposition to the inclusion of reform worshippers at the Western Wall Plaza, a move they say would "harm the sanctity of the" site. They claim such worshippers "fight God and his teachings."

The matter has been a source of controversy for some time. For example, in November, ultra-Orthodox worshippers clashed with members of the egalitarian movement Women of the Wall, who arrived at the holy site for a demonstration.

Kanievsky and Edelstein also criticize Religious Services Minister Matan Kahana, who spearheaded the kashrut reform that seeks to abolish the Chief Rabbinate's monopoly over the kashrut supervision industry.

The government "is working to destroy the walls of kashrut and conversion," the letter said.

Kahana is now advancing a conversion reform that would see the establishment of a new conversion authority outside the jurisdiction of the Rabbinate, and would include liberal, or non-Orthodox, conversions performed abroad.

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Following the launch of Israel's campaign to vaccinate children against coronavirus, one of the most influential rabbis in Haredi circles called on parents Thursday to vaccinate their children.

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Senior health officials arrived at Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky's residence in Bnei Brak to discuss vaccine safety and ways to encourage vaccination among ultra-Orthodox children.

Among those who attended the meeting were Coronavirus Commissioner Salman Zarka, expert epidemiologist Professor Ran Balicer, and Kanievsky's personal physician, Dr. Meshulam Hart.

Zarka presented Kanievsky with the Food and Drug Administration approval for the children's vaccine, as well as data on efficacy and safety. He also stressed that the Health Ministry had recently reported a rise in coronavirus morbidity, with unvaccinated children comprising most of the new cases.

Balicer, who is director of Health Policy Planning at Clalit Health Fund, demonstrated post-vaccination data on millions of children in the United States and recent studies conducted in Israel and worldwide on the safety of children's vaccines, that showed that the risks of getting infected with the virus outweighed the potential side effects of inoculation.

Hart also spoke out in support of the shots.

Having carefully studied the data, Kanievsky ruled that children ages of five-11 should be vaccinated, and wished experts success in the national campaign.

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Just until two years ago, now-professional cyclist Goldie Gelhar had not done any sports in her life at all. Born and raised in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, she only attended one swimming lesson as a child, but dropped out after the teacher said she had "weak legs."

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"In the Haredi world, sports is not talked about that much, not for men and not for women, so most people live their lives without any physical exercise at all, until one day, they realize that without it, they cannot exactly live a long, happy life," Gelhar told Israel Hayom.

She herself came to such a realization and took up running, and later cycling.

"I got into it during the coronavirus, because I didn't have a job and had a lot of free time on my hands, and, frankly, felt like my body was rotting. This, of course, happened in other sectors as well, but especially by Haredim, because children did not study via Zoom and just sat at home doing nothing. I myself decided to go for a run and see how I feel."

Little did Gelhar know that she would come to love sports so much that less than two years later she would be training for the Ironman 70.3 triathlons in Tiberias – also known as the Half Ironman – which is taking place in Israel this year for the first time.

The competition, which is scheduled to be held on Nov. 12, consists of 1.9 kilometers of swimming, 90 kilometers of cycling, and 21.1 kilometers of running. It is considered an exceptionally challenging competition. In comparison, the Olympic triathlon is 1.5 kilometers of swimming, 40 kilometers of cycling, and 10 kilometers of running.

"I want to win and get on the podium, but I know that even if I don't, what I already do for myself and the ultra-Orthodox society is already my success," Gelhar said.

"When Haredi women ask me how I find the time for sports, I tell them that there's always a way. Not everyone has to participate in such competitions and train 17 hours a week like I do. Taking a Pilates class would already do wonders for ultra-Orthodox women. As for Haredi children, running alone would change their lives.

"I tell them that even spiritually speaking, the feeling you get when you run is unlike anything else. Ultra-Orthodox women have busy lifestyles, but even they get time off, the majority of which they do not devote to sports."

With an entire sector behind her, Gelhar dreams big.

"I don't think the state is doing enough to bring ultra-Orthodox women into the world of sports. I want to create a mixed running group for ultra-Orthodox and secular women that I think will contribute to Israeli society in terms of sport and many other ways," she said.

The first 40 participants to finish the Half Ironman will qualify for the 2022 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in New Zealand in December.

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The Haredi sector has seen a significant spike in infections in recent days after it initially appeared the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic had largely passed over the country's ultra-Orthodox cities.

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As of Sunday morning, all Haredi cities in Israel were designated as "red," except for Beitar Ilit, which is designated "orange." Some of the cities are atop the nationwide list of places with the most diagnosed cases.

The percentage of positive tests in the Haredi sector is relatively high in all of its cities. In the town of Rechasim in northern Israel, the positive test rate is 21%, higher than any other city in Israel. In Elad, the infection rate was 15%, in Kiryat Yearim it was 14%, and in Bnei Brak and Kfar Chabad it was 13%.

Despite the high morbidity rate, Haredi schools, as of now, will remain open. The Health Ministry in recent days has sought to mobilize a serological testing mechanism, which appears to be faltering out of the gate. As of the weekend, some 40,000 students out of around 250,000 in the Haredi sector have been tested.

Voices in Haredi circles in recent days have expressed anger at the government for its treatment of the matter. The fact that the vaccination drive in schools was launched late, alongside the lack of a discernible safety outline for the upcoming holiday season and overseas travel to Uman, Ukraine, and the attempt to test thousands of Haredi students – have sparked considerable ire.

'We are test dummies'

Among other things, the residents of Haredi cities are furious over the long lines for serological tests. "We are being used as test dummies before the start of the school year in the general public," said one resident of Bnei Brak.

In the meantime, amid the backdrop of the high morbidity, several Haredi cities were trying to encourage vaccinations.

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